History of Detroit, a chronicle of its progress, its industries, its institutions, and the people of the fair City of the straits, / by Paul Leake ... [Vol. 3]

HISTORY OF DETROIT

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and they reside at 438 Fourteenth street, Detroit; and Selma was married on June 19, 1912, to Omar Rockwitz, of Detroit. The parental
home is the center of gracious and generous hospitality. Mr. Taepke
has gained definite success and prestige through his own well directed
energies and is one of the sterling factors in connection with the business activities of the Michigan metropolis, where his personal popularity shows that he has measured up to the best standard of citizenship.
CAPTAIN ROBERT SIMON PALMER, whose efficiency and long service
have won him promotion through the different grades to his present
high position as chief of detectives, began his practical career when a
boy and has gained success against many difficulties. He has had a
varied career and many interesting experiences.
A native of Canada, he was born in Howard township, county Kent,
Ontario, June 30, 1859, and attended school at his home village until
he was fifteen. His parents, who were farmers, were William Jonathan
and Matilda (Walter) Palmer. His mother died in 1873. Soon afterward he moved to Rockwood, Michigan, and began working as a farmer
for Sam F. Smith at four dollars a month. He also chopped cord wood,
and earned his living by the sweat of his brow. In 1879, at the age
of twenty, he came to Detroit and began work for the old-time horse
street railway. He was one of the first conductors who drove cars up and
down Michigan avenue. The trip took half a day at that time. HIe continued at that work three years, and then joined the police department on
October 19, 1883. He was patrolman for several years, until 1891,
when he was promoted to precinct detective, and in August, 1894, to
central detective sergeant. He was later made lieutenant, and in July,
1910, was promoted to captain inspector, being located at headquarters
and having the inspection of the entire department. On July 1, 1912,
he was made chief of detectives.
On the 27th of June, 1884, he was married at Detroit to Miss Maud -
Sherlock.' Her parents were James and Cynthia (Day) Sherlock, her
mother a native of Rochester, New York, and her father of Virginia.
The families on both sides moved to Canada, and thus her parents met
and were married, and then began farming on the old Day homestead.
This couple had a remarkable length of happy married life. On their
fiftieth wedding anniversary their children gathered from far and near
and celebrated the event at the old homestead in Canada. It was agreed
that all the family should come together every five years thereafter as
long as the old folks lived. Just one month before the fifty-fifth anniversary the mother was taken away, in January, 1911. James D. Sherlock died at his old home in Newberry, Ontario, in May, 1912, aged
ninety-three years. Mr. and Mrs. Palmer have one child, Monta Atelka,
aged twenty-five. She is now in the Harper Hospital training for the
nurse's profession. The family are members of the Asbury Methodist
church at Detroit, and Mr. Palmer is a stanch Republican in politics.
IRA MAYHEW, LL. D. There is no need for conjecture or uncertainty in determining as to the value and success of the life of the late
Dr. Ira Mayhew, who was one of Michigan's foremost educators, who
had much to do with the defining and upbuilding of the admirable
public school system of the state and who realized in the most significant sense that the true success is not that gained through commercial
pre-eminence or personal aggrandizement, but rather that which lies
in the eternal verities of human sympathy and helpfulness. He left
the heritage of noble thoughts and noble deeds. He was a man of
broad intellectuality and viewed life and its responsibilities in their